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(Model) G. L. BARD.

TAPE MEASURE. I No. 393,603. Patented Nov. 2.7, 1888..

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TAPE-MEASURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,603, dated November 27, 1888.

Application filed May 25, 1888. Serial No. 275.097. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CEPHAS L. BARD, a resident of San Buenaventura, in the county of Ventu ra and State of Oalifornia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reels and Cases Combined; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved reel and case combined, the object being to provide a compact portable receptacle that may be made of any suitable material, and which is convenient to reel up and contain flexible goodssuch as tapes, ribbons, thread, laces, adhesive plaster, postagestamps, or other pliable articleswhich canbe thus rolled up and stored away in a neat, safe, and compact manner. I

With these objects in view myinvention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described,and pointed out in the claims.

While I desire to give considerable range to the application of my reeling-and packing device, as it is well adapted to receive and deliver a variety of different articles, holding them securely meanwhile, and be made of varying sizes as well as of different materials, so as to suit the articles to be packed in them,I will illustrate one special article in combination with my improved receptacle as being held and delivered for use in any proper length in a rapid easy manner, which article is a graduated tape line or measure.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved reel and case in the hands of an operator, as it appears when the tape-measure is being unwrapped. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the case with tape-measure folded, one end of the reeled line being entered Within the enveloping-case. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the reelcase and reel with a tape-measure wound thereon. Fig. 4 represents the reel detached from the case and tapeline. Fig. 5 is a modified form of reel that is adapted to receive thread of different grades or colors and keep them separated. Fig. 6 is a detached view of a modification of the reel yoke, by which the reel is held in sliding engagement with the case and prevented from complete separation therefrom. Fig. 7 is a plan View ofthe modified form of reel-yoke in place in a case, which latter has the side removed to expose the interior and show method of securing the yoke to the case at one end of the same. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a reel-case, showing a different method of forming the shoulders on the same to retain the reel-yoke.

A is the reel employed to hold a tape-measure that is wrapped upon it end wise when the device is employed to receive and incloso a tape-line. The reel portion just mentioned is preferably made of sheet metal which is elastic to a certain degree. It consists of a strip of sheet metal of suitable width and thickness bent into an elongated loop, the meeting ends of which are brazed, soldered, or otherwise firmly secured together.

The width of the loop, or, as Iprefer to term it, the reel, A, is about equal to that of the tape-line B, which is placed on it. As shown, the reel has two flat sides, A, and rounded ends. One of the sides has one or more tongues, a, formed integral with the same by punching two sides of a V-shaped tongue loose from the sheet-metal side wall, leaving the base of the triangular piece intact therewith, thus producing in a simple manner a ready hook or tooth for the attachment of one end of the tapeline B, which is forced over the point of the tongue or, and the latter is then folded down upon the material, so as to hold the line and side of the reel in close connection.

The case 0 is essentially a rectangular box or shell, made, preferably, of metal; but other suitable material may be employed. The dimensions of the case are such that it will neatly envelop a reeled tape-line when it is wound upon the reel and inserted therein, proper spaces being left at each side or edge of the reel, for a purpose that will be explained.

One end of the case 0 is left open for the reception of the reel and the tape-measure. The other end of the same may be closed or left open. If the modified form of attaching-yoke shown in Fig. 6 is used, the box or case 0 is preferably closed.

Within the case'O, at opposite points on the side walls, 0, two ledges, d, are formed or affixed to produce abutments, against which the outwardly-tnrncd hooked ends of the yoke E are made to have engagement to restrain the yoke from complete withdrawal out of the case. The preferred form of yoke consists of a bent loop of metal wire, E, that is of such a relative width in its now that thcsidelimbs, 0, produced by the two right-angle corner bends. h It, will be so spaced apart that the integral cross-bar i may be introduced between the par allel sides A of the reel A and the limbs e be allowed to slide between the reel-edges and the inner walls of the case 0.

The length of the bow or loop of the reelyoke E is so proportioned to the distance of the shoulders formed by the ledges d that when the hooked ends L of said yoke are in contactwith them the crossbarc' will be projected outwardly beyond the end of the case 0, and thus allow the tape-measure to be unwound when the reel is held as shown in Fig. 1 and the line drawn away from the case.

As the crossbar t of the yoke E is in frictional but sliding contact with the sides A of the reel A, it is evident that unless a moderate pulling force is exerted by the operator the line will not unwind. Therefore, if the tape-measure is withdrawn for a portion of its length from the reel and the case dropped still holding the tape in hand, the tape-mcasure B will not be further unrceled, but be held by its enforced engagement with the side of the case and the bite of the reel sides on the cross-bar 1'. Other means than the ledges (Z maybe employed to retain the yoke in place-as, for in stance, the sides of the case may be indented, as shown in Fig. 8, which will effect the same result, and may he preferred as less costly to produce.

In Fig. 6 is shown a different form of the sliding yoke,which is in this case made as a rectangular link, E, with two integral crossbars, t, which connect the side bars, 2'. The width of this link is such as to allowit to slide neatly within the case 0, and it is of such a proportionate length as to permit it with an attached reel to be introduced within the case, and thus cover a reeled tape-measure completely.

The outer case, 0, is preferably made with a rounded lower end and the corners removed from the side edges, to prevent wear of pockets in which it is carried, and in the bottom of the case a flexible band, m, is looped over the lower bar, i, of the link E, having both of its ends secured to the casing C. It will thus be adapted to prevent the entire withdrawal of the link from the case, while the length of the loop will permit said link or yoke to pro trude a short distance from the case when the reel is withdrawn entirely, so as to allow the reel to have a reciprocal movement on the cross-bar i when traction upon the free end of the tape-measure B reciprocally moves the reel to unwind the line in an obvious manner.

When the device is to be employed as a containing-ease for threads, cord, silk-twist, thin braid, or similar goods, a border flange, p, is formed on each side edge to encompass the ends also, these flanges or ribs serving to retain the thread or other fine strands of material from a lateral displacement.

Should it be desired,one or more intermediate ribs or flanges, 1), may be formed upon 01'.

secured to the surface of the reel, and thus provide longitudinal divisions on the reel for the reception of thread or other similar material of varying grades of thickness or different colors, so as to retain them in a compact and convenient manner for withdrawal when needed. This provision will be advantageous when embroidcring floss-silk is thus reelcd,as a graduation of harmonious colors may be arranged side by side, and thus greatly facilitate the work by avoiding the necessity of searching for the correct tint or color to suit the work as it is being executed.

It is apparent that there is a large range of adaptability pertaining to this device, as'convenient paper packing-boxes forribbons, laces, fancy paper, and other goods may be made of different sizes and forms to adapt them to their particular service, and thus afford a preferable means for packing and storing goods of such a character to permit ready access for removal of any desired amount without mussing, tangling, or otherwise disturbing the reeled bulk of the material not removed.

Many slight changes might be made in the details of construction of this combined reel and case to adapt it to suit different materials from which it is to be manufactured or the goods that are to be reeled and stored within the enveloping-case. Hence I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact forms herein shown; but.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a reel consisting, essentially, of a flattened ring and an enveloping-case, of a yoke on which the reel is loosely mounted, the said yoke having a sliding movement within the case,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a reel consisting, essentially, of a flattened ring, the sides of which are slightly elastic, and an envelopingcase, of a yoke on which the reel is loosely mounted,the said yoke adapted to have asliding movement within the case,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a case that is adapted to receive an elongated reel byasliding movement of the reel, of a flat-sided reel, and a connecting link or yoke, which is also allowed to slide within the case, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with an elongated case, and a link which is secured to one end of the case by a loop, so as to have a limited movement endwise, of a flattened reel the surface of which is continuous, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a reel the sides of which are nearly parallel and are slightly elastic, of a securing-tongue formed on or affixed to the reel, a yoke adapted to have a limited endwise movement in an envelopingcase, and a caseadapted to receive and cover the yoke, reel, and material wrapped on the reel, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a case closed at one end, a link inserted within the case, and a loop that holds the link from entire withdrawal, of a reel having flattened opposite sides which are adapted to have frictional contact with the cross-bar of the link, and also to receive upon its outer surface any pliable material and support it either within or with out the case, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a case, a link or yoke, and means to permit a limited endwise movement of the reel in the case, of a fiattened reel, a tape-measure, and a device to secure the end of the tape-measure to the reel, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with an elongated case, a link or yoke made to slide in the case, and

a device which affords a limited reciprocal movement to the link or yoke within the case and prevents its complete withdrawal therefrom, of a flattened or elliptical reel-body the sides of which are slightly elastic,a tape-measure mounted on the reel-body, and a means for securingthe end of the tape-measure to the reelbody, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a reel having elongated nearly parallel or elliptical sides which are susceptible of compression, a tapemeasure wound upon the outer surface of the reel, and a tongue formed integral with the wall of the reel to secure one end of the tapemeasure to the reel-body,of a link or yoke the cross-bar of which is adapted to slide within the elongated slot of the reel body and have yielding contact therewith, and an envelopingcase of a size to receive the reel and the reeled tape-measure, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OEPHAS L. BARD.

Witnesses:

E. M. HI'RSOHFELDER, F. B. DENNIS. 

